7 Practices of Effective Ministry is composed of 2 parts. In part 1, the pastor plays hooky from an elders’ meeting to attend a major league baseball game and discovers 7 principles that become the basis of the 7 practices in part 2. Part 2 delves more deeply into each of the practices. There are great questions at the end of each of these chapters. The 7 practices are Clarify the win, Think steps not programs, Narrow the focus, Teach less for more, Listen to outsiders, Replace yourself and Work on it. Some favorite quotes include: “You don’t know what a win is at church, do you?” Programs “can lead to life change or they can just become a way of life.” “Do attendees feel comfortable inviting their unchurched friends?” “discipleship happens best with a group of friends who are ‘doing life’ together.” ”make sure that people walk away and feel like guests” “I have accumulated a lot of knowledge in my life, very little of which is actually helpful on a practical level.” “leaders don’t volunteer, they are recruited” ( )

This makes a grade-A, excellent management and organizational-systems book! I have since moved past trying to micromanage the Kingdom, so this wouldn't be my first suggestion to you unless a management or organizational-systems kind of book is what you are looking for. ( )

Written by Andy Stanley, Reggie Joiner, and Lane Jones, this book covers the seven practices that guide the ministry of North Point Community Church. In a very concise, yet applicable way, the authors expound on the seven practices, including lessons they lessons they learned on the way.
The book is divided into two halves. The first half is presented as an allegory: a Senior Pastor discovers all seven practices while at a baseball game. This section is a quick read, providing you with the basics of the practices and their corresponding idea in baseball. This provides a concrete, memorable method with which to remember the list. The second half of the book is where the North Point staff provide details and concrete applications for the seven practices.
7 Practices of Effective Ministry is a must read for any leader in ministry. While it does not provide a blueprint for starting or running a ministry, this book does provide helpful practices for team building in ministry. Most of the steps are not instant cures, but over time, they will provide for the long-term growth and sustainability of your ministry. ( )

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